Gambians envisage regaining of lost glories in President Barrow administration

President
Adama Barrow has now turned one year since he took Gambia’s leadership from
former President Yahya Jammeh. Yesterday Sunday was also exactly one year since
former President Yahya Jammeh went into exile in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Since
he took until now, Gambians have been analyzing what they called positive
impacts of the Barrow lead government and suggesting for improvement in some
areas.

Mr.
Barrow won the December 2016 Presidential Elections, ending Mr. Jammeh’s
22-year rule of the small West African nation with a population of 1.9 million
people. Little was known about Mr. Barrow in Gambian politics. His fame came
apparently two months before the elections when he became the flag bearer of
the seven-party coalition that ousted Mr. Jammeh.

Some
analysts say just one year into Barrow’s leadership, Gambians are today
enjoying a kind of freedom that has been usurped from them by the Jammeh
administration for 22 good years but some say the new government still needs
improvement in several areas.

President
Barrow was sworn in as Gambia’s third president in the country’s embassy in
neighbouring Senegal following his attending the France-Africa Peace Summit in
Mali’s capital, Bamako where he was flown to by West African regional bloc,
Ecowas mediators during Mr. Jammeh’s refusal to cede power.

Today,
Gambians have the freedom to discuss political matters and to hold their
leaders responsible of their actions which were impossible during Jammeh’s time.

As
in our last week special edition, The Point’s reporters conducted interviews to
gauge the opinion of people about the exchanges see in the Barrow regime. Below
are the interviews:

Kahla
Ceesay, vegetable seller: “I support
Barrow’s government and hoping that he will go for the five-year term so that
he can implement all his promises to Gambian people. I thank Allah that we are
in a democratic state now, where there is freedom of expression. I am pleading
with the government to reduce the price of food items to make the living of
average Gambia easy. Apart from that, I am praying for the government on their
responsibilities to serve the Gambia on the right path.”

Alieu
Ceesay: “We prayed for democracy to avail in the country and Allah has accepted
our prayers by bringing a new President. I am also pleading with the government
to reduce the tax especially for us doing petty business in Serekunda market;
the daily duty taxes imposed on us is sometimes making our work hard.

I
am a Gambian and I supported President Barrow. I am now calling on him and his
government to help us especially in the market on the challenges we face
daily.”

Ndey
Jaw, business woman: “More women are engaged in petty business. We expect the
Barrow government to support and assist the women. Barrow should work harder
because to handle a government is not an easy task. We want him to speak with
the people on their concerns to have the sense of interaction with us because
since he took the government, hardly will I hear him speak on the worries and
try to control situations.

Crimes
are becoming too much in The Gambia and the Government should step up and help
us.”

Abie
Njie, civil servant: “Security is my greatest concern about the new government
and they should try to educate the people about democracy. Trying to instill democracy does not mean we
should do anything we feel like doing including taking people’s properties,
killing, or fighting one another. The transportation system is becoming weak,
taxi drivers are treating people anyhow. Since the reduction of transport
fares, we are having problem. The free market style is also another challenge.
The government should look back and help the average Gambian because feeding is
becoming expensive for us to afford.”

Lamin
B. Ceesay, youth activist: “As Gambians, it is important to look back on the
new political dispensation reflecting from the past to move forward. Young
people voted the coalition government for change, promises have been made and
issues are confronting us particularly migration and unemployment which are
threats to national security. They should consider these issues and work with
the National Youth Council to upgrade the life of young people. We the youth
are tasking the government to help with the energy as it are the key for
development.”

Adama
Marong, lecturer Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute: “Now Gambians feel
very secure under President Adama Barrow and we hope that will continue so that
Gambia can become well developed.”

Mamadou
Ceesay, Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute: “Through his actions,
President is a good leader and I am hopeful that he will lead this country
through the right path.”

Gaston
Jarjue: “President Barrow is moving the country in the right direction but my
opinion is that he and his government officials need to reduce their number of
travelling.”

Muhammed
Mamudou, businessman: “Well my business has improved very well since the coming
of President Adama Barrow. We hope that Gambia will soon start to development
like other development countries.”

Modou Bojang, a phone credit vendor: “Gambia’s
peace will always continue. Now, having a civilian government, we hope that
everything is going to be fine and the country will return to its lost glories
for the mutual benefit of the people.”

Momodou
Salieu Jallow, a shopkeeper: “I was in a state of fear during Jammeh’s time but
now, business has started flourishing in The Gambia. Government just needs to
priorities its engagements.”

Papa
Njie a welder: “We expect the new government to come with opportunities for
young people. If opportunities are provided, the rate of irregular migration
will come down or even totally stopped.”

Namory
Trawally, a Gambian journalist: “I am still optimistic that Gambians voted for
change and for democracy and whatever should happen the will of the people must
be respected. We envisage a New Gambia that will accommodate good governance
and maintain rule of law for the country’s development”

Kaddy
Jaiteh, Kololi: “President Barrow is
starting good with his new government and we hope that will always continue.”

Modou
Sabally, artiste: “Lives are greatly changing in Gambia since President Barrow
came to power and we hope that will continue so that jobs can be created and
every Gambian can benefit equally.”

Ebrima
Camara, Busumbala: “Gambia is now free
forever when president Barrow became the president. We are hopeful that we will
see the country developing more and more as we all envisaged”

Laurence
Gomez, Kotu: “We will not blame the Barrow government much considering the way
former government was ruling this country. But is calmness need to change. He
need to be rigid and decisive in taking decisions to stop all the noises in the
country.”

Haddy
Corr, Pipeline: “We thank God for witnessing Barrow’s first year in office and
we hope to see more development in years to come. Every Gambian is looking
forward to see the country regaining its lost glory during Barrow’s time and
this has already started. ”

Mamadou
Jallow, Tabokoto: “Personally, I think Barrow’s administration is on track in
the areas of rule of low and good governance. But we would like to see more
development projects coming into the country.”